Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 2 Entries. Saturday, May 23 View Page On a whim I bought a giant pumpkin start in a 1 gallon pot at a plant sale. Tag says it's descended from 2271 Vander Wielen. This is my first giant pumpkin. I wasn't ready, had done no research, only had a tiny area in the garden left to plant it, and I'm not even the real gardener in the family. Too bad, I'm going to have fun! Saturday, July 11 View Page Planted May 23 but didn't take any pictures till July 11. Added a tractor bucket of old manure and a wheelbarrow of garden compost to the soil. It's coming along nicely but obviously way behind where it could be if I'd been prepared more.